My Interaction in the Emergent Conversation

I am in a discussion on the website of Jonathan Brink. The coversation that is taking place can be found HERE. In the course of the discussion, a man named Joe was kind enough to point me to his blog to answer the concerns I raised. That blog may be found HERE. Here is my response to him, and what he wrote on his blog. What do you think? Is there anything I should have added? Was there anything that I was incorrect about? Let us now converse! Here are my words:

I did read your blog, and it was interesting, however, you perhaps didn’t
deal with the issues that would go against your thesis. Allow me to list
several, and you can decide if they are convincing.

First, when we look at 1
Tim 5:18 “18For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads
out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages." We notice something
interesting.
First, we have a quote used by Paul from Deut 25:4, but Paul also adds
Jesus’ words in Luke 10:7 and declares them both as “scripture.” From this we
learn that the words in the gospels were and are to be considered in the
totality of the Word of God. As we take the authority of the Mosaic Law and the
Prophets, so we should take the words of Jesus.

Second, we take 1 Cor 14:37
which Paul says, “If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should
acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.”
Paul, in his letter of correction to a church with many issues flat out says
that his words are the word of the Lord and should be seen as such. And in fact,
if anyone says that they are spiritual, they should acknowledge this fact. This
is yet even more truth that all of scripture must be seen as the Word of
God

Third, we take Peter’s words in 2 Peter 1:16-21, “16For we did not follow
cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For when he
received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by
the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," 18we
ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the
holy mountain. 19And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which
you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until
the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20knowing this first of
all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.
21For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God
as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” We learn that scripture is
greater than any personal experience; even greater than seeing Moses and Elijah,
and seeing the transfigured Christ with our naked eyes. Scripture is more
reliable than that, and that no prophet just wrote his own words, but the Holy
Spirit carried him along. The Spirit moved the authors to write exactly what
they wrote, because it is all the word of God, and is more reliable than any
personal experience, even such an amazing experience than the mount of
transfiguration.

I understand that this could be seen as only relating to the Old Testament,
but Peter goes on to say in Chapter 3, and I think this is remarkably telling as
he is about to die, what is the last thing you would want to say? 2 Peter
3:14-18, “14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to
be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15And count the patience
of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you
according to the wisdom given him, 16as he does in all his letters when he
speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to
understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as
they do the other Scriptures. 17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand,
take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and
lose your own stability. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.
Amen.” Peter connects Paul’s writings to the Word of God by calling it
scripture. They twist Paul’s words “as they do the other scriptures” This one is
remarkable. Peter connects Paul’s words to the entirety of the Old Testament by
calling it the other scriptures. And failure to do this will cause a lost of
stability and doing it will lead to your own destruction.

From this we clearly see that the whole bible is the word of God, not just
parts, but the whole. The gospel is not just found in the gospels, but is found
everywhere in the Old Testament, and in every chapter of the bible (Even in the
conquests of Joshua).

A Message for Valentines day

Here is a message for Valentines day. GO HOME AND LOVE YOUR WIFE!!!

A Great Message on Prayer

I think that prayer is the hardest thing in the Christian life. This should not be, but I feel I'm not alone on that. Many of us don't do it because we don't want to, but because we don't know how to. This message will help with that. Please watch this video from Dr. Joel Beeke and be blessed by it! Please feel free to comment. I do want conversation on my blog.

Me preaching on 2 Peter 1:5-15

Here is me preaching on 2 Peter 1:5-15 on July 25th

http://www.mediafire.com/?e6a3qs6yhwdw9eh

Feminism Has Consequences

Here is an amazing article from the Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. The ideas you teach your Children have consequences! Feminists need to read this, as well as every Christian. I really want conversation on this! Feminists, objectifying yourself is not empowering. It is degrading. It makes you an object. What do you want to be seen as? Biblical Christanity is the only place women can find true beauty, freedom and true self worth.

Please comment if you disagree with this. Or comment if you do. I have a daughter now...this stuff really scares me. What will she be dealing with in her day, if these ideas continue? You may find the original article HERE.

Exploited Miss America, Empowered Miss USA

Mary Kassian July 15, 2010
[Editor's note: The following post originally appeared on Mary Kassian's Girls Gone Wise blog]

In 1968, a group of “women-libbers” protested the Miss America Beauty Pageant. They argued that the pageant symbolized the cultural problem of men chauvinistically defining and exploiting women as sex objects. The protesters crowned a live sheep “Miss America” to parody that men treated women like animals at a county fair. They chained themselves to a life-size Miss America puppet which was paraded and auctioned off by a woman dressed up as a male Wall Street financier. “Step right up, gentlemen, get your late model woman right here–a lovely paper dolly to call your very own property … She can push your product, push your ego, or push your lawnmower …”

The highlight of the afternoon was the famous “Burn Your Bra” Freedom Trash Can. With elaborate ceremony and shouts of joy, the protesters threw away what they identified as male-promoted “instruments of torture”–high-heeled shoes, corsets, girdles, padded bras, stockings, false eyelashes, curlers, and copies of Playboy, Cosmopolitan, and Ladies Home Journal. They shouted “Freedom for Women!” and “No More Miss America” and hung a banner from the balcony reading “Women’s Liberation.”

The display marked the cultural launch of feminism—the philosophy that women have the right to define their own existence. Feminists argued that women had been wrongly defined by men as housewives and/or sex objects. They reasoned that women would find happiness, wholeness, and self-respect when they had the freedom to define themselves. And culture promptly set about giving them the power and right to do so.

Fast forward to 2010.

Last spring, Miss USA released the official contestant photos of 51 pageant hopefuls. The look? Lacy black lingerie, fishnets, smudged kohl eyeliner, knee-high boots, stilettos, voluptuous cleavage, and naked flesh, the like of which have traditionally been associated with prostitutes and porn stars, not beauty queens. The photo shoot, entitled “Waking up in Vegas,” featured steamy, seductive Playboy-like poses on a large bed and other bedroom furniture.

Rima Fakih made history as the first Arab-American to win the pageant. Besides being crowned Miss USA, she also has the dubious distinction of procuring top honors in a pole dancing competition. What’s even more startling than her lewd behavior, is that this behavior is supported by women. It’s women who uphold the right of Fakih and other contestants to break the “princess, good-girl” stereotype. According to female organizers, princess is passé – but the woman who exerts her sexual power is smart, sophisticated, and worthy of a Miss USA title.

What was once considered exploitative is now considered empowering.

How did this happen? The feminists of the past protested against the sexual objectification of women. Thus, it would appear that modern women have rejected the tenets of feminism. Ironically, however, quite the opposite is true. The raunch culture of today is due to the fact that young women have so thoroughly embraced feminist thought.

Feminism taught the new generation that:
1. Men have historically deprived women of power and freedom
2. Women need to reclaim their power and freedom
3. Women exert power and freedom by rejecting the restrictive, male-defined roles and boundaries of Judeo-Christianity
4. Women have the right to define their own behavior
5. Women have the right to define what womanhood is all about

The daughters of the feminist generation were raised on these ideas. They embraced them and took them to heart. Since sex is power, what better way for women to exert their power than through sexuality? They concluded that Girl Power is best expressed by throwing off all boundaries and becoming brazenly sexual. The Spice Girls, The Sex & the City stars, and celebrities such as Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan all modeled the idea that empowerment equals the right to be raunchy. The idea quickly caught on.

Joe Francis, the Hugh Hefner of Gen X and founder of the Girls Gone Wild porn video series, capitalized on the trend. Accompanied by his camera crews, Francis visited beaches, nightclubs, and parties across America seeking “everyday” college-age women who would flash their breasts, make out with each other, and be sexually lewd on camera in exchange for GGW-emblazoned T-shirts or hats. Francis raked in as much as forty million dollars a year from the sale of these videos. When asked why he thought thousands of young women were so eager to exhibit themselves for his cameras, so willing to objectify themselves in exchange for trucker hats and tank tops, Francis simply said: “It’s empowering. It’s freedom.”

This generation thinks that raunch equals power and freedom. Newsweek has dubbed this, “The Girls Gone Wild Effect.” Nowadays, raunchy sexuality has become the prevalent expression of a woman’s freedom and power.

Joe Francis sees the Girl-Gone-Wild phenomenon as the ultimate expression of feminism. Muzi Mei, the Carrie Bradshaw of Beijing who became a superstar by blogging about her sexual conquests, agrees. She told a reporter, “I express my freedom through sex. It’s my life, and I can do what I want.”

It’s the ultimate irony that the foundational beliefs of feminism have contributed to the increased sexual objectification and pornographication of women. Society’s thorough acceptance of feminist precepts is one of the reasons why behavior that was seen as destructive in 1968 is celebrated as desirable in 2010. When Miss America 1968 appeared in an evening gown and swimwear at the bequest of men, feminism identified her as “exploited.” But when Miss USA 2010 appears in fishnet stockings in sexy bedroom porn, and boldly rejects social convention by entering a pole dancing competition—and does so of her own choice, self-determination and exerting her right to freedom—she embraces and lives out feminism’s core tenets. Given a feminist belief system, culture has no choice but to identify her brash, immoral behavior as“empowered.”

Feminism didn’t provide the answer for woman’s happiness, wholeness, and self-identity. It’s just led us further away from the truth. Girls, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…. I think the time is ripe for a new movement—a seismic holy quake of counter-cultural men and women who dare to take God at his word, those who have the courage to stand against the popular tide, and believe and delight in God’s plan for male and female. A revolution of women embracing God’s design is the needed antidote to counter the self-deterministic feminist mindset that unwittingly justifies the Miss USA type of madness. © Mary A. Kassian, Girls Gone Wise. Visit Mary’s Website at: GirlsGoneWise.com

Now is the Time of Salvation!

Just a reminder from Samuel Davies that the time is now for salvation! Christ's hand is extended to you now! Don't wait, you cannot guarantee tomorrow. Come to the Lord! Seek him while he may be found!

Samuel Davies, "A New Year's Gift!" January 1, 1760

"Knowing the TIME, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep!" Romans 13:11

TIME, like an ever-running stream, is perpetually gliding on--and hurrying each of us into the boundless ocean of eternity!Consider the UNCERTAINTY of your time! You may die . . .

the next year,

the next month,

the next week,

the next hour,

or the next moment!

I once knew a minister who, while he was speaking on this same point--was made a striking illustration of it--and instantly dropped down dead in the pulpit!You cannot call one day of this next year your own! Before that day comes, you may be done with time--and have entered upon eternity! People presume upon time, as if it were guaranteed to them for so many years; and this is the delusion which ruins multitudes!

How many are now in eternity, who began the last year with as little expectation of death, and hopes of long life--as you have at the beginning of the present year! And this may be your doom!Should a prophet be sent to open the book of the divine decrees to you--as Jeremiah did to Hananiah; some of you would no doubt see it written there by your name, "This very year you are going to die!" Jeremiah 28:16.

Some unexpected moment in this year--will put an end to all the labors and enjoyments of the present state, and all the duties and opportunities peculiar to it!Therefore, if sinners would repent and believe--NOW is the time, because this is the ONLY time they are certain of! Sinners, you may be in hell before this year finishes its round--if you delay the great business of salvation any longer!For remember, time is uncertain! Youth, health, strength, business, riches, power, wisdom, and whatever this world contains--cannot insure it. No, the thread of life is held by the divine hand alone; and God can snap it asunder, without warning, in whatever moment He pleases!

"It is appointed unto men once to die--and after that to face judgment!" Hebrews 9:27

Updated link...it should work this time

The link should work this time...This is me preaching on the 6th of June to a Korean Presbyterian Youth Group

http://www.mediafire.com/ryancavanaugh

The Lion Of Princeton Teaching On The Difference Between Justification and Santification

What an amazing and clarifying quote from B.B. Warfield. Very clear and very precisely worded. We are justified by Faith and Faith alone. Our sanctification comes from the justification won by Christ on the Cross. The Cross and Jesus justifying us causes us to be Sanctified. Beautiful! So much Confusion about this in the church.

Dear Christian, if you have faith in Christ, you are Justified before The Father, Because of what Christ has done, and the work on the cross. Christ is interceding for you at the Right Hand of The Father, and has blessed you with every spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3). The will of God is your Sanctification (1 Thes 4:3). You cannot be Justified without faith, and you cannot be sanctified without being Justified. The original Post may be found HERE.

"There is no evidence presented here that the New Testament represents
sanctification as received immediately by faith. In point of fact there is no
direct statement to that effect in the New Testament. It is to Jellinghaus’*
credit that he does not adduce for it either Acts xv.9 or xxvi.18, which are
often made to do duty in this sense. His strong conviction that sanctification
is obtained directly and immediately by faith is a product not of his Scriptural
studies, but of his “mediating theology.” According to that theology, when we
receive Christ by faith we receive in Him all that He is to us at once; all the
benefits which we receive in Him are conceived as received immediately and
directly by the faith through which we are united with Him and become sharers in
all that He is. Justification and sanctification, for example, are thought of as
parallel products of faith. This is not, however, the New Testament
representation. According to its teaching, sanctification is not related to
faith directly and immediately, so that in believing in Jesus we receive both
justification and sanctification as parallel products of our faith; or either
the one or the other, according as our faith is directed to the one or the
other. Sanctification is related directly not to faith but to justification; and
as faith is the instrumental cause of justification, so is justification the
instrumental cause of sanctification. The vinculum which binds justification and
sanctification together is not that they are both effects of faith – so that he
who believes must have both – because faith is the prius of both alike. Nor is
it even that both are obtained in Christ, so that he who has Christ, who is made
to us both righteousness and sanctification, must have both because Christ is
the common source of both. It is true that he who has faith has and must have
both; and it is true that he who has Christ has and must have both. But they do
not come out of faith or from Christ in the same way. Justification comes
through faith; sanctification through justification, and only mediately, through
justification, through faith. So that the order is invariable, faith,
justification, sanctification; not arbitrarily, but in the nature of the case.
(B. B. Warfield, “The German Higher Life Movement,” in Perfectionism, vol. 1,
pp. 362-363)

*Theodore Jellinghaus was a German Lutheran missionary to India, and later a Lutheran pastor in the vicinity of Potsdam.

The Fruit of American Christanity

I guess they are trying to produce this...sad, sad, sad.....

Enthralled With The Doll Or The Rattle

What a wonderful God Exulting Quote from Thomas Brooks! Christ is our treasure! To look to anything else than Christ will not satisfy. To not be satisfied in God and him only is an egregious evil! Scripture says the same in Jeremiah 2:12-13, a passage worth memorizing for all Christians. Exult in the Lord Your God with all your heart! find all your joy in HIM, not on his gifts. Worship and praise the giver, not the trinket.

Enthralled with the doll or the rattle
(Thomas Brooks, "A Word in Season to Suffering Saints")

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You!" Psalm 63:1-3

Be sure that you don't take up your greatest delight . . .
in any creature,
in any comfort,
in any contentment,
in any worldly enjoyment.

When the mother sees that the child is enthralled with the doll or the rattle--she comes not in sight. If you take up your rest in any of the dolls and rattles--in any of the poor things of this world--God will certainly keep out of sight! He will never honor them
with His gracious presence--who enthralled with anything below Himself, below His presence.

When you begin to be tickled and enthralled with this and that worldly enjoyment, reason thus, "Here is a gracious spouse, here are precious children, here is a pleasant home, here is a wonderful climate, here is a gainful trade, etc. But what are all these to me--so long God has withdrawn His presence from me?"

Remember this once for all: that the whole world is but a barren wilderness--without the gracious presence of God!